Page 24 of Trial of the Cursed Egg

With one last breath, I let my lids fall shut; the darkness wrapping around me like a shroud. For a moment, there’s nothing—just thesteady rise and fall of my breathing, the distant murmurs of conversation. And then, like a thread pulled tight, I feel it—a subtle tugging sensation, deep in my chest.

Cora’s hand on my arm steadies me as I take a step forward, then another. I’m moving, not of my own volition but guided by something deeper, more primal. My dragoness stirs beneath my skin, her presence a fierce, protective warmth. Slowly, she pulls me through the sea of waiting males, weaving through the press of bodies.

The tugging grows stronger, sharper, until I’m standing before someone. Whispers ripple through the hall, a few gasps echoing in the silence that follows. My dragoness settles, a sense of rightness thrumming through me.

I open my eyes. The world sharpens into focus, colors blooming vividly around me. The male before me is tall, broad-shouldered, his amber eyes locked on mine with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. His black and blood red wings stand tall and proud behind him. Recognition flares, and I know, deep in my bones, that this is the one my instincts have chosen.

I know those eyes—the way they burn with a fire that’s both fierce and terrifyingly beautiful. I’ve seen them spark and blaze on so many occasions. And now, they’re focused solely on me. I tilt my head, feeling the steady pulse of my heart in my throat, and raise my hands to his face. My fingers brush against the cool, smooth surface of his mask, lingering there.

“What am I to you, Abraxis?” My voice is barely a whisper, trembling with the weight of the question.

His hands glide over the small of my back, strong and possessive, pulling me flush against him. My breath catches as he holds me close, his heat searing through my skin. Those eyes never leave mine,intense and searching. “Everything. My mate, partner, and most importantly … my equal.”

Each word falls from his lips like a vow, his gaze tracking every flicker of emotion that crosses my face. Something primal shifts in his stance, and I feel his dragon just beneath the surface, coiling in anticipation.

Slowly, deliberately, I lift his mask away and let it slip through my fingers, watching as it tumbles to the ground with a dull thud. Before he can speak or react, I close my eyes and reach deep within myself, calling to the beast that lingers there. My dragoness rises like a dark tide, her power flowing through me, and when I open my eyes again, I know they’ve changed.

Abraxis’s gaze flares, his pupils shifting to slits as his dragon comes forward, responding to mine. My world tilts, and everything falls away. There’s no sound, no movement—nothing but the thunderous pounding of my heart, a rhythm that matches his. He’s mine, and I’m his. The clarity of it is staggering.

Tilting my head back, I expose my throat to him, feeling the vulnerability of the gesture. A drake claims his mate by marking her neck—a visible declaration of his choice. His wings unfold, shadowing us in a cocoon of black leather, and I shiver as his lips brush the bare skin of my throat.

Then, with a deliberate slowness, he sinks his teeth into me. The sharp sting of pain fades into a molten burn as he marks me, and a fierce, possessive satisfaction settles deep in my bones. His tongue sweeps over the wound, sealing it with a heat that is almost soothing.

“You need to return the favor.” Abraxis’s voice is a low, smoky rumble that sends a thrill down my spine.

He bends, baring his throat to me, and I can see the strong column of his neck, the pulse of his blood just beneath the surface. Leaning in, I press my lips against his skin, feeling the powerful beat of his heart against my mouth. My teeth sink in, breaking flesh, and the warm, coppery tang of his blood fills my senses. My dragon roars in triumph, and I revel in the sensation of our bond solidifying, drawing us even closer.

I clean his wound, my tongue gentle as I soothe the place I’ve just bitten. He watches me with an intensity that sears through my very soul, then unfurls his wings with a single, powerful motion. Wordlessly, he leads us out onto the dance floor, his hand firm on my lower back.

My mate…

A sigh slips from my lips as I rest my head on his broad chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest. We sway to the music; the world narrowing down to just the two of us, the beat of our hearts, the brush of our skin.

“What’s on your mind, Mina?” he murmurs, his lips brushing my temple in a tender kiss.

“I’m trying not to think, to be honest.” I huff softly, clutching him tighter. “We still have to deal with the fact that we just destroyed the betrothal my father arranged over twenty years ago.” The reality of it presses down on me, threatening to smother the fragile peace between us.

He chuckles softly; the sound vibrating through his chest. “I think you may be pleasantly surprised,” he says cryptically, his voice laced with a hint of amusement.

I pull back just enough to look up at him, my brow furrowing. “What do you mean by that?” I demand, but there’s no anger in my words—only curiosity.

His smile is a secret thing, filled with promise. “You’ll see.”

We stay out on the dance floor for two more songs, twirling around the room with the smooth precision of long-practiced partners. Each step, every spin, is a deliberate claim staked in front of everyone watching. By the end of the second song, the gazes are unmistakable—approval and acceptance, as if my presence by his side is some sort of unspoken validation. Our audience watches with rapt attention, and the message is clear: I am his. He is mine. There’s no room for argument.

When the music finally fades, we drift back toward my table, my heart pounding with the thrill of it all. I can’t help but laugh, my eyes finding Abraxis’s as warmth spreads through my chest. The bond between us hums with a silent promise. My smile widens, the world narrowing to just the two of us.

That’s when I see it—our fathers, standing side by side, their gazes locked on us. And then, in unison, they raise their hands and slap them together in a celebratory high-five. I blink, the gesture jarring me out of my bubble. A frown tugs at my lips as I glance between them, confusion tightening my chest. “What am I missing?”

It’s Cora’s laughter that breaks through the muddled thoughts spinning in my head. I turn to her, noticing for the first time how she’s leaning into the broad chest of a gold dragon male. She catches my look and grins widely, her eyes dancing with delight.

“Oh, that?” She nods in Abraxis’s direction as if everything is crystal clear. “You’re my brother’s betrothed. And, by the looks of it, his mate.”

The words hit like a bolt of lightning. Cora squeals, her excitement piercing through the sudden haze enveloping me. She grabs my arm, pulling me away from Abraxis’s steadying presence. “I have a sister!” she shrieks, her grip tight enough to bruise as she crushes me against her chest. “I have a sister!”

The air leaves my lungs in a rush, and I stiffen, the meaning of her words sinking in slowly, painfully. My gaze darts to Ziggy, who’s watching me with a guilty expression, then to Balor, my supposed new best friend. And finally, I find Leander’s amber eyes, but even he won’t meet my gaze. It’s like a veil has been pulled back, revealing a truth that slices through me like a blade.

They all knew.

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